What to make from a broken screwdriver. Converting a screwdriver to use Li-Ion batteries and mains power with your own hands. There is a solution - converting the screwdriver into a network one

In order to understand how to make a drill out of a screwdriver, you first need to understand at least general outline what both tools are and how they differ from each other.

Comparison of the characteristics of a drill and a screwdriver

Main functional purpose The screwdriver is the installation and dismantling of threaded fasteners. If necessary, some models allow you to drill holes in various materials.

The design of the tool includes a clutch that regulates the amount of torque, or, as it is also called, a ratchet. This unit ensures that work can be done without breaking the splines on the heads of the fasteners. Having set the regulator to a certain position, it is physically impossible to apply more force - the chuck in which the bit is clamped will simply scroll.

Another characteristic difference is the presence of a forced spindle braking system. The operation of this system is manifested in the almost immediate cessation of rotation of the tool when the power supply is interrupted.

Characteristics that affect the tool’s ability to tighten self-tapping screws or screws of a certain length and diameter, as well as the ability to drill holes of the required diameter and depth:

• torque;
• number of revolutions per minute.

To work with fasteners, a torque of 10 Nm and a speed of 500 rpm are sufficient. To make holes, these parameters must already have larger values: 30-60 Nm and 1200-1300 rpm.

An electric drill is a fairly powerful tool, the main function of which is to make holes in materials of varying hardness. In this case, the torque from the motor shaft is directly transmitted to the working element - the drill.

A drill, unlike a screwdriver, has higher revolutions per minute and less torque. Some models provide smooth control of the engine speed by means of a rheostat, which allows, if necessary, installation or dismantling of threaded fasteners.

Thus, the applications of the two tools overlap in some areas. A logical assumption would be to use a screwdriver in some cases to perform operations related to drilling holes. Additional prerequisites for such use are the low weight of the tool and, accordingly, the ease and convenience of working with it.

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Using a household screwdriver as a drill

It is very easy to turn the most ordinary screwdriver into a drill. The design of the chuck makes it possible to quite reliably fix drills with a cylindrical shank. It is enough to insert a drill into the clamping chuck of the tool and you can start working.

However, it must be understood that the structural strength is not designed to accommodate holes, especially in hard wood, metal or concrete. When significant axial loads are applied, there will be a high probability of failure of the planetary gearbox that transmits torque from the engine to the working element or the torque control clutch.

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Using a specialized tool

In order to be able to combine the functions of screwing screws and drilling holes in the body of one tool, the following conditions must be met:

• the minimum required values ​​of torque and number of revolutions per minute must be ensured;
• The battery must have the necessary power to make a reasonable number of holes of the required diameter and depth without overcharging.

Tools with similar parameters are already specialized and are called drill-drivers.

The required number of holes can be made in several ways:

• using two batteries with alternating operating modes (one is working, the other is charging);
• the use of batteries with a larger capacity and, accordingly, a longer service life;
• use of an electrical network as a power source.

The functional range of operations that can be performed with such a power tool expands to drilling holes not only in wood and materials like plaster, but also in brick and concrete. This already affects the area characteristic of the hammer drill.

It is safe to say that a drill-driver is a universal tool for performing repair and finishing work at home.

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In cases where purchasing an expensive, powerful professional tool is beyond your means or is not rational from a financial point of view, you can try converting a household screwdriver into a drill.

Since changing the operating parameters of torque and speed is very problematic and most often does not justify itself, the alteration in the vast majority of cases comes down to changing the power supply method. That is, replacing batteries with stationary mains power.

The task of connecting to the network will be reduced to converting 220V into 12V or 24V.

A power supply from a computer or laptop with the appropriate parameters can handle it successfully.

The power supply is connected to a household electrical outlet using a standard cable. You will have to do a little work with a soldering iron to connect the screwdriver and the power supply.

To begin, remove the battery from the screwdriver. Then the IDE ATA Molex power connector is secured to the case. Wiring is carried out, connecting the connector contacts to the contacts to which the power source was previously connected.

It is also necessary to make an adapter cable connecting the power supply and the mounted connector. The starting material for making the adapter is a two-core electrical wire. At the ends of the wire, mating IDE ATA Molex power connectors are secured by soldering.

If you are using a laptop power supply, you can use two installation options:

• The screwdriver body has a socket connector suitable for the standard laptop power cord;
• The IDE ATA Molex power connector is connected to the case, and a mating connector is soldered to the power cord.

A universal power connection option, allowing the use of any power source, involves the production of a universal adapter cable.

The design of the cable allows it to be connected to the screwdriver using the computer power connector to a connection point pre-installed on the case. On the other hand, the cable is equipped with several connectors connected in parallel.

The most common connectors worth mentioning are:

• IDE ATA computer power supply connector;
• “crocodiles” – for connecting to the terminals of a powerful battery;
• adapter for connecting to the car power supply system.

With all the variety of ways to use a screwdriver as a drill, you should always remember that the drilling function in it is just an auxiliary function. No matter how great the temptation may be to use the resulting conversion as a full-fledged drill or, especially, a hammer drill, you should not do this.

The ability to make a windmill from a used screwdriver has not only a theoretical, but also a practical basis, however, it is worth thinking about the end result.

The screwdrivers available for sale today are quite powerful tools; its operating voltage, when charged from a battery of 18 volts, can provide about 40-50 watts of power as a generator. Such power will allow you to light a couple of LED light bulbs, this is when the wind is blowing, and what if it’s calm?

If we are talking about free time and disposal of trash, then it makes sense to expand the activity. If you need a working model, then a windmill made on the basis of an axial disk generator will generate more energy.

The process of turning a screwdriver into a home windmill is useful in accumulating general information in the field of physics, aerodynamics, and electronics, which is also educational and interesting.

Components

All that can be useful is the rotor from that same screwdriver.

Other missing parts will have to be purchased, these are neodymium magnets of suitable dimensions, various rectifiers, converters, inverters and charge controllers.

Or find, for example, a chain gearbox to correlate the rotation speed of the rotor and generator.

Something to get - bearings for the blades.

The result will be a wind generator with a power of 30-40 W at a wind speed of 5-7 m/s.

But that’s not all, you need to make it yourself:

• blades: from scrap materials, aluminum sheets 2-3 mm thick;
• casing: protecting the overall structure from the weather;
• wind generator tail: turns it in the direction of the wind;
• support mast made of pipes: on which the wind generator is mounted.

No less important is the issue of manufacturing blades of a certain shape; for this purpose, the problem of aerodynamics is solved.


To obtain useful operating power, the windmill blades must be 1.5-3 meters long, and for this you need usable area. When bolting them to the generator, it is necessary to very accurately calculate the position of the fasteners in order to have a correctly balanced, adjusted rotation of the blades.

Here a reasonable question arises: is a windmill made from scrap materials and a screwdriver worth such labor and effort, especially since its payback tends to zero. If we compare the costs of making a windmill with our own hands and the cost of a ready-made standard wind turbine (wind power plant), the second option is more preferable.

Preliminary preparation

When constructing a windmill with your own hands from improvised means, if the goal is to have a working, useful device for the household, and not a reminder of a thoughtless desire to create something, it is necessary to calculate the dependence of the possible initial power of the installation on the wind speed.

It should be taken into account that the wind power is directly proportional to the area of ​​the surface being blown and the wind speed raised to the 3rd power. The simplest arithmetic will show that the energy received is only sufficient to charge a mobile phone.


Before you begin the process of manufacturing a device “so useful” for home use with your own means and your own skillful hands, you should determine the characteristics of the accompanying parameters:

• wind speed and its main seasonal directions;
• surrounding area;
• type of wind generator;
• social aspects.

When building a windmill from a screwdriver, it is advisable to choose a horizontal-axis type of wind generator, since the axis of rotation of a windmill of this type can operate in any wind direction. The tail blade of this design balances and turns the working head of the structure on the mast in the direction of the wind.

The power generated by a horizontal wind generator is directly proportional to the height of its mast, since at a height of 6-10 meters the wind speed is higher than at lower levels. There is also a “but” here, such an installation cannot be located in close proximity to buildings. It is better to place it at a distance of about 300 m from a residential area, where there are no trees, or better yet on a hill, in which case problems with servicing the wind turbine and its safety begin.

Service

Like any mechanism, a wind generator, even one made by yourself, needs some maintenance.

For example, in case of sharp gusts of squally wind, the installation must be equipped with a braking mechanism, purchased in a store or also made by hand, in order to avoid destruction of the structure.

Other protective measures include mandatory grounding of the mast and the presence of switches so that you can approach the structure if necessary.

Harsh climatic conditions in winter cannot be ignored, since during this period the generator blades or pipes can ice up and cause an accident.


There is no need to talk about lubricating the rubbing parts of the windmill, since the wind generator itself is already a source of noise, albeit small, and the additional grinding and creaking of other parts of the installation can cause upset not only among neighbors, but also among family members of a home-grown designer who, with his own I created discomfort for myself and my loved ones with my hands.

Conclusion

Taking the opportunity and creating a device with your own hands to use practically free, otherwise God-given energy, especially if you are far from civilization or just want to save money, is very commendable, but economic justification begins at a wind speed of at least 4 m/s.

I would like to ask the home-grown Kulibins whether it would be better to buy a standard wind turbine for almost the same money. Such an installation can be assembled in 2-3 hours, generates electricity at a wind speed of 1-2 m/s and has a payback period of 5-7 years.

Everyone is familiar with a screwdriver. This is a hand-held power tool designed for tightening and loosening a variety of fasteners. This is the main direction of its application, but not the only one. Using a screwdriver you can create a great variety of useful and necessary things.

Screwdriver as a generator

A screwdriver can be used as a generator. It's very easy to do. You need to remove the battery, attach wires to the terminals using alligator clips and connect them to the consumer. Be sure to first check the polarity with a multimeter. You need to insert and clamp a hex key into the chuck to assemble the furniture. By rotating the spindle, a current will be generated that will be supplied to the consumer. However, it is worth noting that the voltage generated by this electric machine is only enough for charging mobile phone or running a small LED lamp.

Harnessing wind power with a screwdriver

Wind generators are built using this principle from a screwdriver, but the current generated is so small that the game is not worth the candle. Its installation is more effective in areas of high wind load, although even there the result is not justified.

Carpentry workshop equipment

A few more interesting suggestions on how to make equipment for home carpentry using a regular screwdriver.

Wood lathe

When making wood products, it is difficult to do without a lathe. You can build it yourself. A flat wooden workbench is ideal for the bed. A screwdriver can be used as a headstock and rotation drive. You need to place the tool in a wooden bed made from a block in the shape of a screwdriver and secure it with a clamp. The block can be secured with a clamp, and if the machine is constantly used, screwed with self-tapping screws. A tooth mandrel must be inserted into the chuck. The tailstock is made of two bars with an adjusting screw, which is sharpened to a cone. It is installed opposite the fixed screwdriver so that the axis of the tool coincides with the axis of the tailstock adjusting screw. The back support structure is secured with a clamp. If you plan to process large parts, then the fastening should be more reliable. The tool rest can also be made from a block, securing it to the workbench with a clamp. Primitive lathe ready for home workshop.

Bench Drilling Machine

Another equally important piece of equipment is a drill. It can also be made from a screwdriver. To do this you will need a used screwdriver. From it you need to take a motor with a gearbox and a cartridge. Now you need to make two clamps from textolite, which will perform the function of fixing the drilling head of the machine. To achieve maximum alignment of all holes on the clamps, it is better to process them together, in one installation. Then you will be able to avoid distortions.

Bushings with internal threads are used as limiting posts. They must be the same size, corresponding to the distance between the clamps. After this, another clamp is made from textolite and two bosses from caprolon. They are drilled off-center, resulting in two eccentric bushings. The clamp is installed on the rod and the backlash is selected using eccentrics. After this, install a wooden lever on a spring so that the drilling head returns to its original position. To supply power, you must use a transformer with a power of more than 150 watts and an output voltage similar to the screwdriver you are using. After this, you need to install a diode bridge and a capacitor, and install the drilling head on the frame.

Manual router from a screwdriver: step-by-step instructions

It can be converted into a hand router. To do this, you do not need to purchase expensive materials. Everything you need can be found in the workshop or garage, practically under your feet. To make a manual router from a screwdriver, you will need pieces of thick plywood or chipboard, a clamp for attaching the tool, fasteners in the form of bolts and self-tapping screws, plumbing tools and a feather drill for wood. In the latter case, you can use a drill bit.

Assembling a homemade router is quite easy. To do this you need:

• From pieces of the selected material, cut out a base, a vertical stand on which a screwdriver will be attached using a clamp, a stop and a gusset to impart rigidity to the structure. The dimensions of the parts are chosen arbitrarily, in relation to the dimensions of the power tool.
• Drill a Ø 40 mm hole in the base using a feather drill for easy access cutting tool to the processing area.
• Make a clamp according to the diameter of the hand tool.
• Using a clamp, secure the screwdriver to a vertical stand so that its chuck is a few millimeters from the base.
• Install the stiffener.
• Secure the screwdriver with the stop on the vertical stand.
• Install the cutter into the tool chuck.

The screwdriver cutter is ready for use. Such a machine will not be able to become a full-fledged replacement for a manual milling cutter due to its low power and low spindle speed, but it will solve the problem of milling small parts in a home workshop.

Circular saw

In addition, for your carpentry workshop you can make a circular saw from a screwdriver. To do this, you need to make a working surface using a sheet of chipboard or thick plywood. You need to make a cut in the tabletop to allow the circular saw to exit. The screwdriver must be securely fastened to the underside of the work surface using metal or wooden clamps. In the same way it is necessary to mount the shaft. It is important that the saw blade extends above work surface table no more than a third of its diameter.

Modernization of children's vehicles

And of course, all the best goes to the children. Using a screwdriver, you can modernize many children's vehicles. For example, convert a children's pedal car into an electric car.

Electric car

To make a car with electric drive you will need:

1. Steel frame profile pipe. You can make it yourself.
2. The wheels can be used from a rubber garden cart.
3. The body can be taken from an old pedal car or you can come up with some creative solution. For example, soldering from plastic pipes.
4. As an electric drive, it is necessary to use two motors from screwdrivers and a gearbox from the same power tool. Separate housings are made for them, in which the output shaft is mounted on 201 bearings.
5. Battery. You can use a regular automobile 6ST60.

After all the components are prepared, all that remains is to assemble the electric car. This process is simple and can be done by every man who has even a superficial understanding of plumbing.

Electric scooter and electric bicycle

Another use of a screwdriver in creating vehicles is an electric scooter or electric bicycle. The principle of this modernization is based on installing a chain drive between the wheel sprocket and the electric motor sprocket with a screwdriver gearbox. This device is powered by a hand tool battery. This solution does not require large expenses. As a result of the improvement, a vehicle with a speed of 5 to 15 km/h is obtained.

Electric snowmobile

Using a screwdriver you can make not only a vehicle on wheels, but also a real snowmobile. To do this, you need to use an electric car, having carried out a number of appropriate upgrades. It is necessary to improve the electric vehicle frame to install a drive wheel on it. Instead of driven wheels, you need to install skis, and replace the plastic steering wheel of the car with a metal bicycle handlebar. The drive wheel is driven through a chain transmission from a screwdriver.

Assembling such a wonderful technology will not take much time, and most importantly, money. All costs will be paid off by the joy of the child, for whom an electric vehicle will be a real gift.

Cool ideas and lifehacks for using a screwdriver at home

In addition to the listed mechanisms, a screwdriver can also be used to implement other ideas on the farm. This hand-held power tool will help you automate the opening of an entrance gate, make a winch for a car, or make scissors for cutting metal. If you attach an attachment for cutting tin to it, you can turn an ordinary rubber boat into a motor boat, and modernize the process of drilling holes for ice fishing. In addition, everyone knows that a screwdriver is used as a drive for a mixer, meat grinder or juicer.

After reading the article, the reader gained knowledge about the unconventional use of a screwdriver. Now he can use this hand tool to create carpentry equipment, improve children's vehicles and other useful things in the home.

When batteries stop working, many people wonder how to rebuild cordless screwdriver online. It is impossible to repair batteries with damaged elements. The cost of new power supplies is almost equal to the price of a screwdriver. It is not always possible to find suitable elements; models are often discontinued. But for zealous and skillful owners there is a way out - to power the screwdriver from the network.

Mains power supply for a screwdriver - 2 main options

The converted tool has one drawback: it is tied to an outlet. But for indoor work this is not so significant. But there are more advantages. Now you don’t have to worry about recharging the battery, there will be no downtime. The current strength remains stable all the time and does not depend on the discharge of the battery, which means constant torque.

Before you go looking for a power supply (hereinafter referred to as PSU), study the screwdriver parameters that are indicated on the case or in the passport. Pay attention to the tension. A 12-volt tool is more common; finding a power supply for it is not difficult. If the tension is greater, the search may take longer. It is necessary to find out the current consumption, which is not indicated in the technical specifications. The purchased unit must produce an average current value (between the battery capacity and the standard charger). Data can be found from the labeling.

There are two main options for converting a 220-volt cordless screwdriver. The first is to use an external power supply. Any rectifier capable of delivering the necessary constant voltage. Even if it is big and bulky, there is no problem. After all, you don’t have to carry it around the room. The block is installed near the outlet, and the cord to the instrument is made of the required length.

Remember that as the voltage decreases, the current increases if the power remains the same. This means that the cross-section of the low-voltage cord must be larger than that from a 220 V network.

The second option is that the power supply is mounted in a battery-powered case. The only obstacle when choosing this method may be the size of the transformer. Mobility is maintained, the radius of use depends on the length of the power cord. It is important to remember that the instrument is supplied with 220 V power, so the cord must be reliable, and the input itself must be made carefully and carefully insulated.

What external units can be used - an old computer or a laptop charger?

Available power supplies can be used as an external source:

• charger for car batteries;
• PSU from an old computer;
• laptop charging;
• homemade power supply.

You can buy an old charger inexpensively on the market. Nowadays, pulse chargers are mainly used, and old devices are often sold as unnecessary. This type of charger, with the ability to manually adjust voltage and current, is ideal for any screwdriver, regardless of its operating voltage. The whole modification consists of connecting a low-voltage cord to the output contacts of the charger.

The computer power supply is purchased from older models; it must have a power off button. It will not be needed, but this is exactly the version of the "AT" format that is needed. On the radio market, a unit with a power of 300–350 watts is selected, which will ensure reliable operation of low- and medium-power screwdrivers. All technical specifications indicated on the sticker on the case. The unit has a cooling fan and overload protection. To convert a computer power supply with your own hands to an external one for a screwdriver, we perform simple operations:

• disassemble the body;
• on the large square connector we find a green wire and any black one;
• We connect both wires to each other and insulate them;
• on the other smaller connector, remove all the wires, leaving yellow and black;
• We solder the cable cord to them.

To maintain polarity, you should know: yellow wire is positive, black wire is negative . The tool operates with a voltage of up to 14 Volts from a computer power supply.

Majority chargers from a laptop have characteristics that allow them to be used as a power source for a screwdriver. Chargers with an output voltage of 12–19 Volts are suitable. The only changes that will need to be made are to the output plug. It should be cut off, strip the wires and solder a cable of the required length to them.

Persons with knowledge of electrical engineering can make homemade block nutrition. Its circuit is quite simple and includes a step-down transformer, a diode rectifier and two capacitors. All parts can be bought or taken from old radio equipment. A transformer from a tube TV with a 24–30 V output is suitable. A rectifying diode bridge is required. The capacitors used are not in short supply, from old technology: one is 0.1 µF and the other is electrolytic at 4700 µF.

Attention! The structure must be enclosed in a housing. To protect against short circuits, it is necessary to install fuses at the input and output.

How to place a power supply in a case - 3 different possibilities

The mains can be placed in the battery case or in the handle. Possible options:

• any power supply unit suitable in terms of characteristics and size;
• Chinese 24 V power supply;
• homemade.

A power supply with the required parameters is selected on the radio market. At home, you should carefully remove it from the case and place it in your screwdriver, securely fastening all the components. If the wires are short, lengthen them so that they do not touch metal parts. Place the transformer and the board separately. For better cooling, install additional radiators on microcircuits. It would also be a good idea to have holes in the housing to allow air to circulate and heat to be removed during operation.

In a radio parts store we buy a 24 V power supply, current 9 A. Screwdrivers operate on 12 or 18 Volts, so the task is to reduce the voltage to the required level. To perform such work, minimal knowledge of radio engineering is required. The output voltage is maintained by resistor R10 with a nominal value of 2320 Ohms. Instead, you should install a 10 kOhm trimmer resistor. How to configure the power supply is described below:

• remove the constant resistor;
• set the resistance of the trimming resistor to 2300 Ohms on the device;
• solder the tuning resistor in place of the constant one;
• With the power supply turned on, adjust the voltage.

The design of a homemade power supply will be based on an electronic transformer Feron or Taschibra at 60 W. You can buy them at an electrical supply store and they are designed for halogen lamps. They do not require any modification. By diverting the secondary winding from the midpoint, it was possible to use two Schottky diodes instead of the usual four. The operation of the power supply is controlled by the HL1 LED. The diagram shows all the necessary details.

Transformer T1 winds itself. A non-deficient HM2000 ferrite ring with dimensions of 28×16×9 is used. Before winding, the corners are cleaned with a file, and the ring is wrapped with FUM tape. The completed unit is mounted on an aluminum plate 3 mm thick or more, placed in the battery housing. It also performs the function common wire.

How to carry out installation correctly - is a counterweight needed?

Operational reliability and safety depend on the reliability of the installation of the electrical part. A soft multi-core cable is used as a network and low-voltage cable. If the device is external, the ends of the cable should be connected to its terminals. We treat copper wiring and brass contacts with soldering acid, after which they are easily soldered. In practice, special clamps – “crocodiles” – are often used. In the screwdriver itself you cannot do without soldering; the “crocodiles” do not hold so tightly that the contacts do not separate during operation.

The ideal option is to use an old battery case. It is disassembled and the entire internal part is removed. At the same time, they stand out harmful substances, care should be taken to protect respiratory tract and skin. The body is washed with soda solution, running water and dried. WITH inside contacts, solder the ends of the cable observing polarity. In order not to guess, we temporarily connect the cable, turn on the screwdriver and see in which direction the spindle rotates, mark the wires. We make a hole in the bottom of the case and pass the wires through. Inside the housing, the cord should be securely fixed by wrapping insulating tape around it. This thickening will prevent the wiring from stretching and breaking. Then we solder the ends to the contacts.

We place a counterweight inside the body. The best material there will be pressed rubber. She has necessary characteristics: high density, insulating properties. To prevent the rubber from dangling inside, we cut it out with a slight overlap. To place the counterweight in the housing, we bend the material slightly and place it so that it will not oscillate and will serve as additional insulation. Perhaps the counterweight may seem unnecessary to some, but it is not. The design of the screwdriver ensures that the center of gravity is in the handle. This loads the arm, but relieves the hand. When batteries are removed from the case, the center of gravity shifts, increasing the load on the hand. Work becomes uncomfortable and difficult. A homemade counterweight restores the center of gravity close to the factory one.

How to use a corded screwdriver - simple rules

You have seen how easy it is to convert a cordless screwdriver into a corded one. The practice of craftsmen suggested simple and useful tips instructions for use:

• after 20 minutes of work, you should give the screwdriver a five-minute rest;
• fix the electrical cable on your hand so that it does not interfere with your work;
• The power supply should be regularly cleaned of dust;
• do not use extension cords to connect the power supply to the network;
• The power supply must be grounded;
• It is prohibited to use corded screwdrivers when working at heights.

Compliance with these rules will extend the life of the updated instrument. Mobility has been lost a little, but the unit does not require recharging and works smoothly and confidently.